Mercury Prize goes pop with Ed Sheeran among Album of the Year shortlist

The Mercury Prize has long rewarded British music's more niche offerings. In 2014, punk-hip-hop trio Young Fathers took home the prize after selling just 561 copies of their debut album Dead, while Talvin Singh, who blended Indian tabla music with drum and bass, won in 1999 for a record that didn't even make the Top 40.

Sheeran is joined by his collaborator and fellow chart-topper, Stormzy, the grime artist whose debut album Gang Signs and Prayers reached number one in its first week in March.

The artist said he is "aware he won't win" but that just being nominated had fulfilled a childhood dream.

In an Instagram post, he wrote: "My dream when I first started music was to sell out Shepherd's Bush empire and have a Mercury nominated album.

"Did the latter on the first album but have never been nominated on either album so just assumed it would ever happen, as I'm aware, I'm not the most critically acclaimed artist out there.

"But today, low and behold, woke up to find out Divide has been shortlisted.

"Now I'm aware I won't win, but to be put on the shortlist is a real honour, and something that makes both 26 year old me and 13 year old me very happy and proud."

The xx are also shortlisted with a number one album, I See You, which sees the London trio return to the Mercury Prize shortlist after winning the award in 2010 with their eponymous debut. Manchester rock band Blossoms' album of the same name, which reached number one last August, has also been recognised by the panel.

The Mercury Prize aims to "celebrate and promote the best of UK music recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres", according to a statement, and was again judged by an independent panel of musicians, industry experts and journalists.